Folding table



May 26, 1936. WEED 2,042,326

' FOLDING TABLE Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 26, 1936. c, WE D 2,042,326

I FOLDING TABLE Filed Jan. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I A. V 1 Inventor 67257765 fWad,

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Patented May 26, I 1935 UNITED STATES- aoialeo PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tables, particularly card tables of the type having folding legs, and has for its primary object to'provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means through the medium of which the legs may be conven-' iently swung in. unison to folded or unfolded position and retained.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a table of the aforementioned character comprising novel hinge means for securing the legs.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a table of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly emcient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be men-- ufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:--

Figure l is a view in bottom plan of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the legs in unfolded or extended position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the table up-side-down.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through a corner portion of the table, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1..

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the slides.-

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an end portion of one of the metallic tracks or guides.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the invention, showing the legs in folded position, a pair of said legs being broken away.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a top I which is mounted in a frame 2. The reference. numeral 3 designates the legs of the table which are secured in position for swinging movement through the medium of hinges which are designated generally by the reference numeral 4. It will be noted that the legs 3 are arranged in pairs which are adapted toswing toward or away from each other beneath the top H to folded or extended position, the legs constituting each pair being positioned to avoid each other when swung to folded position.

Eachhinge t includes 'a metallic base 5 engaged beneath the top I and having intergral with certain of its edges an angular flange 8 5 secured in the adjacent comer portion of the frame 2, thus constituting corner braces 01 reinforcements for said frame. Pivotally mounted on the free inner longitudinal edge of each base 5 is a leaf 1 which is provided with a side 10 flange 8. The legs 3 are firmly secured to the elements I and 8 of the hinges t. It will thus be seen that the legs 3 are secured on two sides to the hinges. As illustrated to advantage in .Figure 1 of the drawings, one of each pair of the 5 hinges t is provided with a comparatively long base portion 5 to permit the leg attached thereto to be positioned in such a way as to avoid the other leg of each pair when said legs are swung to folded position. It may be well to here state that the legs constituting each pair extend in parallel relation to each' other beneath the top! when folded.

Mounted on a pair of the side members of the frame 2 and extending beneath the top 1 is a metallic track member 8 having slots 9 formed therein, said slots 9 being provided with enlarged end portions 10. Pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on the track 8, between the inner ends of the slots 9, is a lever II. The reference numeral l2 designatesv slides which are operable in the slots s of the track 8, said slides being provided with grooves or channels in their longitudinal edges for the reception of the longitudinal walls of the slots 9. Links I 3 are pivotally connected, at one end, to the slides l2 and at their other ends to the lever II on opposite sides of the pivot It of said lever.

Also mounted on the side members of the frame 2 between which the track 8 extends and arranged on opposite sides of the end portions of said track 8 are tracks i5 of angular transverse section (see Figure 5) having slots E6 in the legs or portions thereof which extend horizontally beneath the table top I. The slots l6 are provided with enlarged end portions ll. The reference numeral l8 designates slides which are operable in the slots l6, said slides being substantially similar in construction to the slides I2 and having channels or grooves l 9 (see Figure 4) in their longitudinal edges for the reception of the walls of the grooves IS. The enlarged end portions l0 and H of the slots 9 and I6 of the tracks 8 and I5, respectively, are to facilitate the insertion of the slides l2 and I8.

Plates! are mounted on the hinged end portions of the legs}. Links 2i (see Figure 2) are pivotally connected, at one end,"-to the plates}! and at their other ends to the slides l8. Comparatively long links 22 are pivotally connected, at one end, to the slides I 2 and at their other ends to the slides l8.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing, When it is desired to swing the legs 3 tofolded position, the lever H is actuated in a' direction to move the slides i2 inwardly in the slots 9 of the track 8 through the medium of the links i3, thus moving the slides l8 inwardly or toward the track 8 through the medium of the. links 2L As is thought to be obvious, inward movement of the slides l8 will swing the legs 3 to foldedposition beneath the table top I through the medium of the links 2i.

'tudinal alignment with each other and it will thus beseen that said legs will be firmly retained in open position. In other words, any pressure exerted on theslides I2 by the links 22 when the legs 3 are in'ur'ifolded position will be at right angles to the direction of travel of said slides and said slides thus will not be moved by such pressure.

It isthought that the many advantages of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described,'it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:- 1. A table comprising a top, legs hingedly mounted on the top for swinging movement to at an intermediate point, on the track between the slots,'slides operable'in the slots, links pivotally connected, atone end, to the slides and at their other ends to the lever on opposite sides of the top, said track having longitudinally aligned slots therein, a'lever pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the track between the inner ends of said slots, slides operable in the slots, 20

links pivotally connected, at one .end, to' the slides and at their other ends to the lever on opposite sides of the pivotal mounting of said lever, tracks of angular transverse section mounted on' the frame on opposite sidesof the 2 5 end portions of the first-named track and at right angles thereto, 'the'second-named tracks having slots therein, slides operable in the second-named slots, links operatively connecting the second-named slides to the first-named slides so for actuation thereby, and links operatively con-' necting the legs to the second-named slides for actuation by said second-named slides.

3. A table comprising, in combination, a top, legs hingedly mounted on said top for swinging 35 movement to folded and unfolded position, a I track mounted beneath the top, a lever pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on said track, slides slidably connected to the track on opposite sides of the lever, links operatively connecting 40 the slides to the lever on opposite sides of the pivotal mounting of said lever, tracks extending at substantially right angles to the first named track, slides slidably connected to the second named tracks, means connecting the second 45 named slides to the first named slides for actuation thereby, and means connecting the legs to said second named slides for actuating said legs to folded and unfolded position upon movement of said lever.

CHARLES F. WEED. 

